Jack Russell
Robert Charles Russell
Born: 15 August 1963, Stroud, Gloucestershire
Major Teams: Gloucestershire, England.
Known As: Jack Russell
Pronounced: Jack Russell
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break
Other: Wicket-Keeper
Test Debut: England v Sri Lanka at Lord's, Only Test, 1988
Latest Test: England v West Indies at Antigua, 6th Test, 1997/98
ODI Debut: England v Pakistan at Peshawar, 3rd ODI, 1987/88
Latest ODI: England v South Africa at Dhaka, Wills International Cup, 1998/99
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1990
Career Statistics:
TESTS
(including 20/03/1998)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 54 86 16 1897 128* 27.10 35.86 2 6 153 12
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling - - - - - - - - - -
ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
(including 25/10/1998)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 40 31 7 423 50 17.62 66.30 0 1 41 6
O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling - - - - - - - - - -
FIRST-CLASS
(1981 - 2002)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 452 672 140 16395 129* 30.81 11 86 1158 124
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 9.2 0 68 1 68.00 1-4 0 0 56.0 7.28
LIST A LIMITED OVERS
(1982 - 2002)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 460 354 90 6439 119* 24.39 2 25 449 91
O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling - - - - - - - - - -
- Explanations of First-Class and List A status courtesy of the ACS.
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Profile:
Jack Russell's enthusiasm for cricket is boundless. After a distinguished
England career, his commitment and efforts for his county are to be
applauded. He remains one of the most talented wicket-keepers in the
country, and his inspired performances were key to Gloucestershire's
unprecedented run of one-day success in 1999 and 2000.
A combative player, Russell is quick to spot, and exploit, a mental or
technical weakness. Behind the stumps, he relies on talent and reflexes.
When batting, guts and determination figure more strongly than class and
aesthetics.
Russell's Test career was continually put on hold as a weak England side
tried desperately to utilise Alec Stewart as an all-rounder. He retired from
Test cricket in 1998, though he has since hinted that it would be difficult
to turn down a call for help from England.
Russell would freely admit that he is a quirky cricketer. His kit is old
and threadbare, his batting style inventive, and his off-field antics and
interests frequently the subject of ridicule. Shallow views about his
personality abound, and many have used his individuality to criticise him.
Away from cricket, Russell is a talented painter, and runs his own
gallery. His passion grew from the boredom of rain delays, and he has
captured many great cricketing moments, including Australia winning the 1999
World Cup at Lord's.
Born in Stroud in Gloucestershire, Russell excelled at both cricket and
soccer at school. His association with Gloucestershire began when he was
ten, and he was playing first XI club cricket by the age of 14. Russell
played representative cricket for England schools and Gloucestershire Young
Cricketers, where he grew close to David Lawrence, the former England fast
bowler.
Russell played his first first-class match aged 17, and made an immediate
impression against the touring Sri Lankans, with six catches and a stumping,
the best performance by a keeper on first-class debut.
By 1983 Russell had replaced Andy Brassington as Gloucestershire's
first-choice keeper. Due to Brassington's popularity, Russell was not
accepted by all of his team-mates. Despite this, his keeping was beginning
to attract positive attention, even though his batting was disappointing.
Alan Knott and Bob Taylor had spoiled England, and after their retirement
the wicket-keeping cupboard was looking bare. Paul Downton, Bruce French and
Jack Richards were all tried, and Russell was eventually given his chance on
England's infamous 1987 tour to Pakistan. He only played in one one-day
international on tour, taking three catches.
Russell was one of four players to debut in England's 1988 Test with Sri
Lanka. Despite struggling with the gloves in the first innings, he scored 94
as nightwatchman. Although the winter tour to India was cancelled, Russell
had made his mark, and would cement his place in England's Ashes side. He
was England's player of the series, making his first Test century at Old
Trafford - also his first first-class hundred - and picking up 14 dismissals
in the series.
But England were not satisfied with a wicket-keeper who could bat,
wanting instead to bolster their side with batsman who could keep. Despite
continued excellent form with the gloves, Russell's batting remained
inconsistent and he was dropped for the Adelaide Test match in 1991,
replaced by Alec Stewart. From this match, Russell's appearances were
seemingly dictated by the whims of the selectors, and the perceived notion
that five bowlers were needed to win Test matches.
Although Russell remained a regular in the England Test side, he was
never guaranteed his place. He toured Australia in 1994/95, but was
essentially surplus to requirements, particularly with Stewart keeping well.
Russell was given an extended run in South Africa in 1995/96, one of his
most successful tours. Hansie Cronje became his 100th Test victim, and his
11 catches at Johannesburg broke the world record. It was in the
Johannesburg Test that his famously determined batting was needed. He batted
for nearly five hours, as Mike Atherton's mammoth effort saved the Test
match. Though he made only 29, he frustrated South Africa's bowlers with his
exaggerated leave (which Courtney Walsh would copy) and never-say-die
attitude.
A second Test century in 1996 helped to secure his place, though his open
stance against the spinners prompted much criticism. This was to be his last
season as Gloucestershire captain, though he continued to offer support to
the new skipper Mark Alleyne.
The make-up of the England side remained unsettled, and Russell lost out
in Zimbabwe and New Zealand, playing only eight days of cricket during the
1996/97 winter. Not required in the 1997 Ashes, Russell's last Test tour was
to the West Indies in 1998, where he struggled. He took no catches in his
last Test, and scored only nine runs.
After 54 matches, Russell's Test career was over. He will be remembered
as one of England's finest wicket-keepers, though his best years behind the
stumps were still to come. As Gloucestershire swept the board in one-day
cricket, Russell's keeping was revolutionised. Standing up to the fast
bowlers, his quick gloves kept batsmen in check and ensured unlikely catches
and stumpings. He recovered from a slipped disc in 2001 to play the latter
half of the season. With his reflexes as sharp as ever, and with the support
of an adoring Gloucestershire public, there is no reason for Russell to put
away his gloves for some time. (Copyright CricInfo, January 2002)
Last Updated: Saturday, 09-Nov-2002 14:14:04 GMT
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